Jerre Barron Jr.
Jerre Barron Jr. spent several years as the president of the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo, and that taught him that he enjoys community service. After retiring to Bella Vista three years ago, he was looking for a way to be involved.
“If I gripe about something, I need to be in there doing something about it,” he said.
“Bella Vista has a unique blend of generations and needs,” he said. “I realize that the needs of the younger residents need to be met, without sacrificing the needs of the senior generation.”
Before he retired, Barron was a safety and environmental specialist for LyondellBasell Americas Research Division. He worked with research scientists and state officials and he enjoyed that too
Although he has only lived in Bella Vista a few years, he visited here for
decades before moving and watched the area transition from a small retirement community to the city it is today. He uses most of the amenities, including the golf courses and the lakes.
He believes there may be too many bike trails. Future maintenance costs may be a problem, he said. But his
children use the dirt bike trails and enjoy them.
He also reported mixed feelings on the POA food service. While a nice place to eat is a good amenity for POA members, an upscale restaurant like Lakepoint may not be the right fit for this area. He would prefer a less expensive alternative as long as it’s nice.
“We have a hell of a deal,” he said about Bella Vista assessments, but he believes that will have to change.
“It’s like the cost of living,” he said. While he doesn’t always agree with POA financial decisions, he believes assessments have to keep pace with other prices.
Barron said he paid $400 a year to his HMO in Dallas to support one pool and one small park.
“It’s just not comparable,” he said.
In Bella Vista, he uses the fitness centers, the rifle range, the lakes and the golf courses.
“I like them all,” he said.